as he is, so am i

My name is Frances Grace Gunn. Frances means “free.” So I’m Free Grace Gunn. It’s a little crazy. I know, but it’s also so wonderful that the gospel is so easily spelled out in my very own name. Free. Grace. 

First, everyone should know I’m nothing fancy. I’m no english major. At the same time I’m no theology major. Just your average college student who is trying to understand the gospel…for myself. I highly encourage you to check out the scriptures for yourself and see what God wants you to see. It’s pretty crazy studying the word outside of a script. God has a lot to say. Just listen. 

Just so we are all on the same page I want to tell you what the “gospel” is. It’s actually quite simple. It’s Jesus. When I refer to the gospel I am referring to the story of Christ, you know that bro that came and lived the most perfect life and was brutally killed because He loved you so much.

Yadda-yadda-ya-ya. We’ve heard it since we were four in sunday school. I know because I was there with you. I heard it, but I never listened. Whoa. Didcha know there’s a difference. 

Let’s think about it. Think about the sweetest, most tender-hearted, compassionate, loving person you know. We all know one. Mine was the lady that drove my carpool home in elementary school. I don’t think that lady even thought a bad thought. Well Christ came and was sweeter than that carpool lady. He was more tender-hearted than your grandma or that leader you had one time at church camp. He was more perfect than that person you’ve been trying so hard to be like. He is Righteous. He is Holy. He is Beautiful. He is Perfection.

And He is you. 

Wait, hold up sistah. He is me? That ain’t right. 

In 1 John 4:17 it says

“By this love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as He is so are we in this world.”

I want to point out that last part. As He is so are we in this world. Heyo, that’s powerful, y’all. As HE is seated on the throne right now, in heaven, so are we in THIS world. 

Yeah-yeah, sunday school again. I’m guessing you just heard that one too. As He is so are we in this world. If you believe all that stuff above that Christ came and lived the perfect life so that we could live free of condemnation, then He (Jesus) lives in your heart. Like inside of you. In your spirit. Sooo, let’s look at that again. As He is…so am I in this world. Is it clicking? 

This is HUGE. Why is it HUGE?

Well, think of how the Bible talks about Jesus. Think of how you and your friends discuss Jesus. Think of how you perceive Jesus. THAT’S YOU! God views you as He views Jesus. Spotless. Holy. Faultless. Whole. Righteous. Blameless. Pardoned. You are His. You are the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God through JESUS. 

YOU ARE FREE!!!  

“There is therefore now now condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)

Frances Gunn

Frances Gunn

Frances Gunn runs the marketing company Good Team in Chattanooga, TN, and uses her gifts and passions to help business grow.

Frances is a 2016 graduate of Lee University in Cleveland, TN, where she learned the art and skill of videography. For several years Parresia was incredibly blessed to have Frances as our media director and producer. She spearheaded several projects for Parresia including the "Grace Encounter" testimony videos, "Grace Nugget" teaching videos, "The Real View" women's talk show, and ALL of the Parresia teaching series and conferences. Frances has used her gift to share the Gospel across the world as we make the teachings of Parresia available on-line.

Frances also loves the outdoors and has traveled across the US hiking the mountains and capturing the beauty of creation with her camera.

Frances has grown up in the Christian world and experienced things that have given her a fresh idea of what the Gospel is at its core: a new identity in Christ!